The Hallmark League Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday 8th December, 2018
RUNCORN TOWN 0 v 2 SILSDEN AFC
Att.67 Gaughan 60, Sultan 65.
ILLINGWORTH IMMENSE; KAINE IMPERIOUS IN DELUGE
The Cobbydalers travelled to third-placed Runcorn Town on Saturday hoping to get back on track after slipping down the table. In the ten games against Town, Silsden had only won one and drawn two, one in an away match in which Mitchell and Wademan were scorers, three seasons ago. Despite being third in the table, the Merseysiders recent form was not ideal, one win in the last five games.
Silsden lined up with Callum Jakovlevs replacing Sammy Lee in goal and Luke Rhodes coming in for Barnes. The pitch had passed a morning inspection but is was far from perfect, making conditions increasingly more difficult as the game went on, especially in the final five minutes, when a deluge of biblical proportions took place.
Town had more of the ball in the opening exchanges but they failed to capitalise on half chances as the Yorkshiremen were pushed back. Fortunately Josh Kaine and Dan Illingworth were imperious at the back, denying the Runcorn forwards clear sights of goal. Silsden’s first sortie forward was when Niall Sultan latched onto a through ball from Matty Moses but keeper Jack Cookson smothered the winger’s cross.
An ambitious crossfield pass from Mitchell was intercepted by Dale Jennings who shot high over the bar. At the other end, a slick move involving Bentham and Wademan ended with Sultan over-hitting his cross. Wademan’s appeal for a penalty was turned down after he had cut in from the left only to be impeded. However, he still managed to get a shot in, which Cookson saved low to his left.
Runcorn went close in the final fifteen minutes of the half. Luke Edwards curled an effort wide before Kaine denied Gary Burnett with a superb tackle. Shaun Weaver thought he had netted the opener after a cross from Burnett, but Jacovlevs saved the shot on the goal line. The keeper then headed clear outside his area before Harry Brazel shot wide.
The second half started with Illingworth breaking up a Runcorn attack at the expense of an ankle injury. He played on after treatment. Jacovlevs saved a low shot after a Runcorn corner was only cleared to the edge of the area. Gaughan’s header, following an Illingworth throw in, was marginally too high, then Wademan exchanged passes with Mitchell before shooting narrowly wide. Illingworth cleared a dangerous free-kick on sixty minutes. The ball was hit into the Runcorn half and GAUGHAN drew the keeper and slid the ball under him.
Five minutes later the Cobbydalers were two up as the ball was passed out of their defence. Eight passes later, involving Rhodes, Gaughan and SULTAN, the Yorkshire men went two up. Mitchell’s pass to Gaughan saw the striker in the clear but he was flagged offside.
Now it was the turn of the defence to defend the lead. Illingworth was immense, heading two crosses clear before heading Heath’s corner off the goal line. As the rain intensified so did Town’s will but so did Silsden’s resolve. The intense downpour made a mockery of the beautiful game.
It was backs to the wall for Silsden but breakaways saw Lyndon fire over at the other end and Gaughan have a shot saved after a through ball was intercepted by Kaine, whose reading of the game was superb in this mud bath.
On Tuesday the Cobbydalers are at Congleton before travelling to Squires Gate at the week end.
RUNCORN TOWN FC. Cookson, Turner, Heath, Murphy, Shaw, Edwards, Brazel, Weaver (Thelwell 68), Burnett, Ennis(Exell 72), Jennings(Byrnes 67). Subs not used James, McManus,.
SILSDEN AFC. Jakovlevs, Bentham, Moses, Kaine, Illingworth, Lyndon, Rhodes, Mitchell, Wademan(Forrest 77), Gaughan(Ainscough 84), Sultan. Sub not used. Lee.
Referee. Mr. B. Atkinson. Assistants Mr. W. Vaughan and Mr. D. Wallis.
